Your trustees

Florence Osborne, Chair

Florence was appointed as a Trustee in 2021 and was elected as Chair in April 2023.

Flo became a member of AGSD-UK in 2020 when her son Hugo was diagnosed with GSD3b at 12 months old. She joined the trustee board early in 2021.

Flo is a Chartered Psychologist working as a Senior Lecturer in Exercise Psychology at Loughborough University, School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences. Her research interests focus on the psychology of exercise behaviour and how sport and exercise can support those with mental health problems. She hopes to bring her academic and research expertise to support the GSD community in addressing important and relevant research questions.

On taking up the position of Chair, Flo said: “AGSD-UK is a charity that is especially important to me and my family since Hugo’s diagnosis. Before 2020, I had never heard of the condition. This is a big driver for my involvement. I want to help take forward our aims of improved treatment and better support for our strong and wonderful community. Having become involved as a trustee two years ago, I am delighted to have been nominated for the position of Chair and will endeavour to work with our CEO and the other board members to continue the great work.”

She loves all sport and has a passion for fundraising – often combining the two. She, with friends, completed the National 3 Peaks Challenge to raise money for AGSD-UK.

Ailsa Arthur

Ailsa was appointed as a Trustee in October 2017.

Ailsa joined the AGSD-UK over 20 years ago, when her youngest son was diagnosed with GSD3a, or Cori’s, and for a couple of years was the GSD3 coordinator. In 2003, she and her husband organised a bike ride to Vietnam to raise funds for AGSD-UK. This successful adventure was the first of many for the association.

She has been a nurse for many years and hopes that she can bring bring to AGSD-UK her knowledge and experience of the health service and her understanding of the effect of a rare disease; in both a personal and a professional capacity.

Ailsa is keen to raise the profile of people with GSD, and particularly those with Cori’s, wanting to see improved treatment, care and support for all those affected. Since becoming a trustee, Ailsa has helped to set up the first support team for GSD3 – the Cori Action Team Support or CATS. This team has recently collaborated in the production of a new AGSD-UK publication, “Top Tips for Cori’s”.

Ailsa lives in Oxfordshire with her family and a few too many pets.

Sarah Chikhani

Appointed as a Trustee and Treasurer in 2020.

Sarah joined the board of trustees in 2020 and brought her knowledge and expertise in finance to act as our Treasurer. Added to this, she has been a pharmacist for the last ten years, working in both the public and the private sector. Her skills in both these areas will be a great benefit to the AGSD-UK.

She enjoys running and exploring the countryside with her dog.

Nick Jones

Nick was appointed as a Trustee in July 2018.

Confirmation in 2014 (at the age of 54) that Nick had GSD5 was a light bulb moment, it explained why he was different from others when it came to exercising. Shortly afterwards Andrew Wakelin (GSD5 Coordinator) contacted Nick and was very helpful in explaining the related literature that was available, the support provided by AGSD-UK and he also mentioned the forthcoming annual conference.

To find a sympathetic support network of patients and carers was a pleasant surprise and at the AGM Nick readily volunteered to be a patient representative on the AGSD-UK trustee board.

In 2005, after 20 years working as a professional engineer in the oil and gas industry, Nick co-founded an engineering design consultancy. Now with almost 100 employees he does little technical work, focusing instead on managing the head office, meeting clients, checking on projects and mentoring the junior engineers.

He hopes his business skills will be useful to AGSD-UK as it grows into a more structured organisation. Nick also sits on the fund-raising sub-committee of AGSD-UK, which is looking at ways of growing the charity’s finances to expand the services on offer and to fund more research.

Nick served as Interim Chairman from 2019 to April 2023.

Rachel Thomas

Rachel was appointed as a Trustee in 2020.

Rachel’s daughter Bronte was diagnosed with McArdle disease, GSD5, about 6 years ago. Having been a member for some years, Rachel agreed to join AGSD-UK Board as a Trustee in 2020.

The journey to get Bronte diagnosed was a long and painful one, as it was for many. Rachel is in contact with many of the McArdle’s parents and she talks to several McArdle mums every day via the internet.

The family has been to Wales on the “Walking with McArdle’s” courses for the last 5 years and say they have met so many amazing people from all over the world, who all have so many stories to tell.

Rachel has become interested in finding a way to support our GSD teens and young adults through diagnosis and on into adulthood. Diagnosis at a young age is obviously an immense advantage, but for many it’s the start of a very difficult journey. Rachel hopes to be able to contribute to the discussion on how we may be able to improve this.

Charlotte Dawson

Charlotte was appointed as a Trustee in 2023.

Charlotte is a Consultant in Inherited Metabolic Disorders at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham and is Chair of AGSD-UK’s hepatic professionals’ group.

Kempton Rees

Kempton joined the board of trustees in 2023.

Kempton has contributed to a range of AGSD-UK working groups. He is a lawyer by profession and part of his work involves dealing with disability benefits. For many years, he was the lead singer of a rock band. Since Covid, he has stepped back from the limelight, but he continues to enjoy travelling, going to concerts and watching rugby.